Using Technology to Motivate Kids to Exercise

TAMPA, Fla.--(Business Wire)--
"Kids in the US don't exercise enough," says Stan Reents, PharmD,
a certified personal trainer, fitness counselor, and tennis coach. In
1969, 80 percent of kids played sports every day; today, only 20
percent do.

Can technology be used to reverse this trend? Apparently, a lot of
companies think so, as the concept of "exergames" is starting to take
off. Health clubs and schools are now turning to these
innovative technology-driven activities to get kids moving.

"'Exergames' are video games that promote exercise. 'Interactive
fitness games' are technology-driven games that also promote exercise,
but don't require a screen," according to Lisa Hansen, PhD candidate
at the University of South Florida in Tampa, and co-director of their
fitness lab.

Put a bunch of these games together in an arcade-like atmosphere
and you've got "XRKade." XRKades promote a fun and social experience.
"Kids focus on playing the games and don't even realize that they're
exercising," says Hansen, who was a basketball player and personal
trainer before entering the PhD program. Only a handful of these
arcades currently exist in the US, but many more are expected to open
in 2008.

To some, using technology to motivate kids to exercise might seem
like feeding whiskey to an alcoholic. After all, television and video
games have been identified as reasons why kids are so sedentary. But
kids love games. "We have found that they never sit down when playing
the various games in our XRKade lab," says Hansen.

Certainly, something needs to be done to promote exercise in kids.
In most gym classes, kids are aerobically active for just 3 minutes.
"Sadly, overweight and obesity and the medical problems that go with
it are starting to appear in kids just like they do in adults," says
Reents, a former health care professional and creator of
AthleteInMe.com.

A review of many of these technology-based exercise games can be
found at www.AthleteInMe.com.

About XRKade

XRKade (www.XRKade.com) is owned by iTech Fitness
(www.iTechFitness.com), a Denver-based developer of exergaming,
interactive fitness, and entertainment systems. XRKades can be found
as a stand-alone club but more often as a club within a club concept.
For more information, contact sales@itechfitness.com

About AthleteInMe.com

AthleteInMe.com is an independent web site devoted to providing
high-quality information on exercise, fitness, training, sports
nutrition, and fitness gear for consumers and athletes. One of the
features of the site is an online fitness counseling service. For more
information, contact: sales@athleteinme.com.

Note to Editors

Lisa Hansen and Stan Reents are available for interview.

Lisa Hansen can be contacted at: withersp@coedu.usf.edu or call
813-974-1146.

Stan Reents can be contacted at: editor@athleteinme.com or call
813-907-2185.

For AthleteInMe.com, Tampa
Stan Reents, 813-907-2185
editor@athleteinme.com
or
Lisa Hansen, 813-974-1146
withersp@coedu.usf.edu

Copyright Business Wire 2008